The Senate health committee has approved President Donald Trump's nominees to lead the CDC and Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). CIDRAP has the news.

Erica Schwartz was approved to lead the CDC by all Republican members and one Democrat on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, which means her nomination will proceed to the full Senate floor. The confirmation hearing involved several senators appearing dismayed by some of Schwartz's responses, but support from Bill Cassidy assured she would move forward.

Sean Kaufman's nomination to lead ASPR also moved forward; all Democrats on the committee opposed the nomination. Cassidy had previously criticized Kaufman for his criticism of vaccines, but he said Kaufman "owned up" to past anti-vaccine statements. He also said he received assurances from HHS officials that he wouldn't be involved in vaccine policy.

Cassidy has been widely criticized for his role in confirming HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He claimed then that he had received assurances from Trump administration officials that Kennedy would not undermine U.S. vaccine policy.